DMR Smackdown: Reed v. Harkin
Nathan Greene
in Debates, Harkin, Reed
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7 Comments
In case you missed it, fireworks could be seen over the city of Johnston yesterday afternoon. They were coming from the IPTV studios where GOP challenger Christopher Reed was taking on loooooongtime incumbent U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin.
To say that Reed was feisty would be an understatement. It's all over the news today some of the things Reed said about Harkin. The thing people need to remember is that everything Reed said is true.
Harkin doesn't live in Iowa (just ask his neighbors in the Bahamas). He (and his wife) have made millions off of his position as a senator. He did get up in front of the ACLU and say that our military personnel are guilty of torture. He does want to close Guantanamo and give enemy combatants the right of habeas corpus (which the constitution provides for US citizens, not those trying to kill US citizens).
I was proud of Reed for having the courage to tell the truth, even if some don't want to hear it. While Reed still probably wouldn't qualify as a super-polished candidate, his overall performance was a vast improvement from the primary debate.
And here's a tip for you, Tom. Pointing out your record is not a "negative attack." If people don't like your record, that's your problem.
And the best part... Reed totally got under Harkin's skin and made him squirm on camera for an hour.
According to Yepsen, who moderated:
Oh really? I sure Tom knows that because he has so much power to control Republican politics.
The truth hurts, doesn't it Tommy?
Reader Comments (7)
I'm a Republican and I am unable to support Reed. He just doesn't have the stuff to be a US Senator.
I watched the debate, and Harkin was not squirming for an hour. Reed (to me) came out swinging as he needed to. But he spent too much time attacking and not enough time telling me why he is a better representative.
His "Tokyo Rose" comment sounds great to his supporters, but comes off as a silly personal attack and he loses credibility with the voters that he needs for the comment. He could make the same argument with more finesse and it could be brilliant...but he didn't and it wasn't.
Either way, I'm not voting for Reed or Harkin. I don't support Harkin's policies, but Reed just espouses platitudes and doesn't give me any sign that he is really thinking about issues. Maybe he is thinking about them and just isn't getting it.
Reed says the right things, but he's too abrasive to convince anyone. He doesn't have the finesse to make those on the fence like him. Give me a statesman like Grassley, and we will beat Harkin. And that person will be great for Iowa.
Hopefully in 6 years we'll get a better Republican to run against Harkin, but Reed just isn't it.
I agree.
Reed let me down. I dont know why he attacked the IRP
If Ames Conservative were really a conservative or a republican, he would know that the Republican Party of Iowa is referred to as RPI.
The democrats refer to their party as IDP, so I'm going to take a stab in the dark and say that "Ames Conservative" is yet another democratic staffer being paid to troll blogs.
Reed did what he needed to do- get attention and stand strong. There are other ways to find out what Reed believes and stands for. Before anyone would be quick to judge the debate, I would suggest checking out other sources for Reed information. For having such a shoe-string campaign Reed has done well. Voters are hard to please but in the end- I do not want to consider 6 more years of Bahama Harkin.
If you haven't noticed. After Reed makes his accusations of Harkin wanting to give our enemies the play book Harkin completely changes the subject. Reed NEVER mentioned Harkin's opposition to torture. What Reed criticized was Harkin's attempt to withdraw funding from our troops and all his other attempts to pull the rug out from under our troops.
A democratic staffer huh?
You guys are full of it. I dont see how you can support Reed after all he said. But I digress. If this is the Republican Party I am in, than I might as well be a democrat
Three cheers for Reed telling it like it is. Harkin is always given a pass. This man has a history of cozying up to America's enemies.
Harkin's threats show what kind of man he is. He can dish it out but he can't take it.